San Dieguito Watershed Brochure

Think Blue Tips

You can help protect the San Dieguito River Watershed by taking simple steps to prevent pollution:

 Properly dispose of trash and take large items to a landfill or recycling center.  Take household chemicals (paint, motor oil or household cleaners) to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. Watersheds are land areas that funnel water to a common low point – usually a stream, lake, river or out to the ocean.  Pick up after your pet and properly dispose of waste in the trash. When it rains, water flows down from areas of higher  Eliminate irrigation runoff – fix broken sprinklers and control over-spray. elevation following the natural shape of the land. Along the To report storm water pollution in  Sweep up debris and dirt instead of using a hose to wash it away. way, rainwater and urban runoff collect and deposit trash, San Diego, call the Think Blue Hotline:  Use fertilizer sparingly—most plants need far less than typically given. sediment, heavy metals, fertilizers, pesticides and other higher Rainfall (619) 235-1000  Wash vehicles on your lawn to absorb the water. pollutants into our local waterways. These pollutants degrade elevation Uplands  Use pesticide alternatives like beneficial insects or non-toxic /biodegradable products. water quality, threatening property and the health of nearby lower thinkblue.org  Direct wash water onto landscaped areas or collect it using a wet/dry vacuum or mop for residents and wildlife. Everyone lives within a watershed, and Lake Stream facebook.com/ThinkBlueSanDiego preventing pollution and contamination from entering our local This information will be made available disposal into the sewer system. waterways is everyone’s responsibility. in alternative formats upon request.  Never dispose of ANY wastewater in a storm drain. San River © Think Blue San Diego. Printed on recycled paper. Lowlands

Coast

The City of San Diego Transportation & Storm Water Department Southwest Florida Water Management District 9370 Chesapeake Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92123 Storm drains collect rain water Water in the storm drain system receives no treatment or Dieguito to help prevent flooding in our filtering and is separate from the sewer system. All water in the communities. The storm drain storm drain system eventually flows to our rivers, creeks, bays system includes a vast network and the ocean – along with the pollutants it carries. of underground pipes and open channels that take water away Keeping pollutants out of storm drains helps preserve our from streets and other developed environment and improve water quality in the San Dieguito areas. Water enters the storm River Watershed. It can also help you avoid costly fines related drain system through an opening in the curb called a curb inlet. to the illegal disposal of trash and other pollutants into the Curb inlets serve as the neighborhood entry point for storm storm drain system. River water’s journey to the ocean. WATERSHED Think Blue Tips what is a You can help protect the San Dieguito River Watershed by taking simple steps to prevent pollution: watershed?  Properly dispose of trash and take large items to a landfill or recycling center.  Take household chemicals (paint, motor oil or household cleaners) to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. Watersheds are land areas that funnel water to a common low point – usually a stream, lake, river or out to the ocean.  Pick up after your pet and properly dispose of waste in the trash. When it rains, water flows down from areas of higher  Eliminate irrigation runoff – fix broken sprinklers and control over-spray. elevation following the natural shape of the land. Along the To report storm water pollution in  Sweep up debris and dirt instead of using a hose to wash it away. way, rainwater and urban runoff collect and deposit trash, San Diego, call the Think Blue Hotline:  Use fertilizer sparingly—most plants need far less than typically given. sediment, heavy metals, fertilizers, pesticides and other higher Rainfall (619) 235-1000  Wash vehicles on your lawn to absorb the water. pollutants into our local waterways. These pollutants degrade elevation Uplands  Use pesticide alternatives like beneficial insects or non-toxic /biodegradable products. water quality, threatening property and the health of nearby lower thinkblue.org  Direct wash water onto landscaped areas or collect it using a wet/dry vacuum or mop for residents and wildlife. Everyone lives within a watershed, and Lake Stream facebook.com/ThinkBlueSanDiego preventing pollution and contamination from entering our local This information will be made available disposal into the sewer system. waterways is everyone’s responsibility. in alternative formats upon request.  Never dispose of ANY wastewater in a storm drain. River © Think Blue San Diego. Printed on recycled paper. Lowlands what is a Coast The City of San Diego Transportation & Storm Water Department Southwest Florida Water Management District 9370 Chesapeake Drive, Suite 100 storm drain? San Diego, CA 92123

Storm drains collect rain water Water in the storm drain system receives no treatment or to help prevent flooding in our filtering and is separate from the sewer system. All water in the communities. The storm drain storm drain system eventually flows to our rivers, creeks, bays system includes a vast network and the ocean – along with the pollutants it carries. of underground pipes and open channels that take water away Keeping pollutants out of storm drains helps preserve our from streets and other developed environment and improve water quality in the San Dieguito areas. Water enters the storm River Watershed. It can also help you avoid costly fines related drain system through an opening in the curb called a curb inlet. to the illegal disposal of trash and other pollutants into the Curb inlets serve as the neighborhood entry point for storm storm drain system. water’s journey to the ocean. about 4 Reservoirs protect the San Dieguito River Watershed 157,324 Residents your watershed

The San Dieguito River watershed extends through a diverse and Lake Poway. These areas sustain a number of “special status” Some water pollution problems can be traced to a specific location such as a pipe or waste disposal site. However, most water array of habitats from its eastern headwaters in the Volcan species including the Belding’s savannah sparrow, California least quality problems are more difficult to isolate and control since they cannot be traced back to one specific source. Pollution Mountains near Julian to the main outlet at the San Dieguito tern, Brown pelican, Western snowy plover, Horned lizard, and problems like these are everyone’s responsibility. The list below includes the most significant types and most likely sources of Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. The watershed encompasses Orange-throated whiptail. pollution in the San Dieguito River watershed. approximately 346 square miles and includes portions of the The San Dieguito Lagoon is especially sensitive to the effects of cities of Escondido, Poway, San Diego, Del Mar and Solana Pollutants of Concern Likely Pollutant Sources Beach. About 80% of the watershed lies within unincorporated pollutants and suffers from occasional oxygen depletion due to areas under the jurisdiction of San Diego County. The current restricted or intermittent tidal flushing. The restoration of these  Bacteria  Garbage, litter & debris  Home and garden care activities watershed population is approximately 157,000; however, this wetlands is in progress and will continue to create new salt marsh  Nutrients  Animal & yard waste  Landscaping level is projected to increase to over 210,000 residents by 2020. habitat and least-tern nesting sites. The restored tidal basin will greatly enhance water quality by helping to keep the lagoon There are several important natural areas within the watershed, mouth open to the ocean. including the 55-mile long, 80,000 acre San Dieguito River Park; the 150 acre San Dieguito Lagoon; and four water storage reservoirs including Lake Hodges, Lake Ramona, Lake Sutherland, quick facts

Total Square Miles: 346 mi Water Supply Reservoirs: Major Receiving Water: Pacific Ocean Lake Hodges, Lake Poway, Lake Ramona, Total Population: 157,324 and Sutherland Land Use Statistics: Undeveloped = 39 % Cities in the Watershed: Important Water Bodies: Parks/Open Space = 22 % Escondido, Poway, San Diego, San Dieguito River Residential = 18 % Del Mar, Solana Beach and and San Dieguito Lagoon Agriculture = 14 % Unincorporated San Diego County Other = 7% about 4 Reservoirs protect the San Dieguito River Watershed 157,324 Residents your watershed

The San Dieguito River watershed extends through a diverse and Lake Poway. These areas sustain a number of “special status” Some water pollution problems can be traced to a specific location such as a pipe or waste disposal site. However, most water array of habitats from its eastern headwaters in the Volcan species including the Belding’s savannah sparrow, California least quality problems are more difficult to isolate and control since they cannot be traced back to one specific source. Pollution Mountains near Julian to the main outlet at the San Dieguito tern, Brown pelican, Western snowy plover, Horned lizard, and problems like these are everyone’s responsibility. The list below includes the most significant types and most likely sources of Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. The watershed encompasses Orange-throated whiptail. pollution in the San Dieguito River watershed. approximately 346 square miles and includes portions of the The San Dieguito Lagoon is especially sensitive to the effects of SAN DIEGUITO RIVER cities of Escondido, Poway, San Diego, Del Mar and Solana Pollutants of Concern Likely Pollutant Sources Beach. About 80% of the watershed lies within unincorporated pollutants and suffers from occasional oxygen depletion due to areas under the jurisdiction of San Diego County. The current restricted or intermittent tidal flushing. The restoration of these  Bacteria  Garbage, litter & debris  Home and garden care activities watershed population is approximately 157,000; however, this wetlands is in progress and will continue to create new salt marsh Solana  Nutrients  Animal & yard waste  Landscaping level is projected to increase to over 210,000 residents by 2020. habitat and least-tern nesting sites. The restored tidal basin Beach will greatly enhance water quality by helping to keep the lagoon Del Mar There are several important natural areas within the watershed, mouth open to the ocean. including the 55-mile long, 80,000 acre San Dieguito River Park; the 150 acre San Dieguito Lagoon; and four water storage reservoirs including Lake Hodges, Lake Ramona, Lake Sutherland, quick facts

You can help protect the San Dieguito River Watershed by taking simple steps to prevent pollution:

 Properly dispose of trash and take large items to a landfill or recycling center.  Take household chemicals (paint, motor oil or household cleaners) to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. Watersheds are land areas that funnel water to a common low point – usually a stream, lake, river or out to the ocean.  Pick up after your pet and properly dispose of waste in the trash. When it rains, water flows down from areas of higher  Eliminate irrigation runoff – fix broken sprinklers and control over-spray. elevation following the natural shape of the land. Along the To report storm water pollution in  Sweep up debris and dirt instead of using a hose to wash it away. way, rainwater and urban runoff collect and deposit trash, San Diego, call the Think Blue Hotline:  Use fertilizer sparingly—most plants need far less than typically given. sediment, heavy metals, fertilizers, pesticides and other higher Rainfall (619) 235-1000  Wash vehicles on your lawn to absorb the water. pollutants into our local waterways. These pollutants degrade elevation Uplands  Use pesticide alternatives like beneficial insects or non-toxic /biodegradable products. water quality, threatening property and the health of nearby lower thinkblue.org  Direct wash water onto landscaped areas or collect it using a wet/dry vacuum or mop for residents and wildlife. Everyone lives within a watershed, and Lake Stream facebook.com/ThinkBlueSanDiego preventing pollution and contamination from entering our local This information will be made available disposal into the sewer system. waterways is everyone’s responsibility. in alternative formats upon request.  Never dispose of ANY wastewater in a storm drain. River © Think Blue San Diego. Printed on recycled paper. Lowlands

Coast

The City of San Diego Transportation & Storm Water Department Southwest Florida Water Management District 9370 Chesapeake Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92123